WeChat gets voice login, 6.2 update

• New 6.2 updates enable users to translate Moments posts to 21 languages
• Enhancements for Android Wear and Apple Watch users

TENCENT Holdings Ltd has introduced the Voiceprint feature for its WeChat app, allowing users to log into their accounts through voice recognition, and rolled out more features under its 6.2 update.
 
The speech-activated feature provides users with a new, quick and secure way to access their accounts, the Shenzhen-based company said in a statement. Users can verbally read out a set of unique numbers, with an option of not going through the process of remembering a lengthy password.
 
The feature is optional – users can activate, verify and reset Voiceprint at the setting selection in WeChat.
 
“Just like your fingerprint, your voice is unique. Once you have enabled Voiceprint, our smart system can recognise your specific voice and intonations to verify your identify,” said Louis Song, country manager for Malaysia and Singapore at the International Business Group at Tencent.
 
“As WeChat develops further into an advance ecosystem that provides various online elements from messaging, gaming, entertainment, media content and e-commerce, we are actively seeking ways to further enhance our user’s security and privacy data,” he added.
 
How to set up Voiceprint

Voiceprint can be found by going to Me > Settings > My Account > Voiceprint. You will be prompted to press and hold the green record button, and to read a set of unique numbers.
 
Once you have read the numbers twice, your voiceprint will be activated and enabled, Tencent said.
 
6.2 updates
 
WeChat has also announced the new WeChat 6.2 for iOS and Android users. Enhancements include ‘Moments’ translations, now supporting 21 languages, the company said.
 
This allows users to instantly convert their friends’ posts into their own language. To do so:

• Long-press the Moments post you would like to translate.

• Select Translate and watch as the post appears in your language.

• You can also translate any Moments comments with a simple long-press.

The new version also introduces Chat Log Migration, formerly labelled Chat History Backup, with Tencent saying it has made a few tweaks to make the chat history backup process quick and simple when transferring your chat history to a new device.
 
The company said it has also added features for Android Wear-compatible watches, and has enhanced the Apple Watch experience and introduced two new language options: Burmese (iOS and Android) and Traditional Chinese – Hong Kong (Android only).
 
For more information on WeChat, go to http://blog.wechat.com/.
 
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